
Release Date: August 31, 2018
A complete edition of the action RPG called Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms, which comprises both the first part of the story and the second chapter, which initially was intended to be available in the form of a free (but not standalone) DLC.
Shadows: Awakening is another installment in the RPG series called Heretic Kingdoms started back in 2004 by Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition. Awakening constitutes a complete edition of Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms, the first chapter of which has been published in 2014, while the second one was supposed to become available later as a free, yet not standalone, DLC. After bitComposer Games – the company responsible for publishing the original release – filed for bankruptcy, the rights to the game have been purchased by Kalypso Media. The developers of the original release – Games Farm – have been tasked with working on the Awakening edition. Interestingly enough, the new publisher kept the promise made by the former one, to release the game to all those who own an original copy of the game as a free update downloadable from GOG and Steam. Apart from PC / Windows, the game described herein is available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
In the PC, XONE and PS4 release of Shadows: Awakening, a player gets to explore a fantasy world of Kingdoms of Heresy engulfed in chaos soon after the demons known as Devourers have taken the control over the celestial bodies of the murdered members of Penta Nera. The Devourers are able to take control of astral bodies of their victims along with their personalities and memories, thus gaining access to the material world. This resulted in them starting a war for power and immortality, posing a threat to the entire world. One of the Devourers, who is a central character in the game, differs from his kin – he can consume not one but many souls, thus he is summoned by the fifth member of Penta Nera. From now on, the Devourer in question is tasked with assembling a team of heroes and stopping the threat before it is too late... unless he decides to take a different path.
In Shadows: Awakening, players observe the action from the top-down perspective. During the game, one gets to traverse various locations, fight hordes of enemies, and complete numerous quests (both story-related and side quests) assigned by NPCs. The developers from Games Farm have given at players' disposal fifteen characters diversified in terms of their specialties, combat skills, and personalities – this group includes heroes praised in songs, as well as shady individuals and monsters.
One can choose three protagonists out of the aforementioned group – on his journey, a player can switch between the chosen characters at any given moment – due to the unique abilities of the demon, he can transform into a selected hero. Moreover, one can also assume the role of the Devourer and travel to the alternate dimension inhabited by monsters – this way, a player can face opponents who do not exist in a physical form, sneak past them, and solve some of the logical puzzles – all this to push the story forward.
As the story progresses, a player gets the access to more powerful pieces of equipment – this means weapons and armor protecting one's character from the damage; all the items can be improved using the elaborate crafting system. Also important are the experience points a player gains for eliminating his adversaries and completing consecutive quests – heroes level up and unlock increasingly powerful combat abilities.
The PC, XONE and PS4 release of Shadows: Awakening features decent 3D visuals – even though they are not top-quality, some elements, such as the special effects accompanying the most powerful spells are bound to satisfy many players. Moreover, the audio layer of the game deserves praise – all the dialogues feature voice acting, and on their journey, a dedicated and atmospheric soundtrack accompanies the players.
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Developer: Games Farm
Publisher: Kalypso Media
Similar Games:
June's offer of Games with Gold for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers includes Injustice: Gods Among Us and Shadows: Awakening.
video games
Angelika Kaldus
May 26, 2021
Top downloads for Shadows: Awakening Video Game:
trainer Shadows: Awakening - v1.12 +7 Trainer - September 10, 2018
trainer Shadows: Awakening - v1.1 +5 Trainer (promo) - September 1, 2018
mod Shadows: Awakening - Console Command v.1.3.1 - January 18, 2020
trainer Shadows: Awakening - v1.13 +8 Trainer (promo) - October 10, 2018
mod Shadows: Awakening - God Mode Plus v.1.3.1 - January 19, 2020
trainer Shadows: Awakening - v1.3.PC +8 Trainer (promo) - December 11, 2018
System Requirements for Shadows: Awakening Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3 2.1 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 460 or better, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 or better, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit.
List of Game Add-Ons and DLCs for Video Game:
DLC Legendary Armory Pack October 26, 2018
DLC The Chromaton Chronicles October 26, 2018
Game Ratings for Shadows: Awakening Video Game.
PlayStation LifeStyle: 8 / 10 by Keri Honea
Technical issues aside, I greatly enjoyed my time in the Heretic Kingdoms. The hack-n-slash combat with puppeteering strategies always felt fresh, the enemies always presented a challenge on the Normal difficulty, and I never got tired of the vast exploration and puzzle solving. Playing again is inevitable for me, as I'm really curious how much choices affect the puppets and the world around me. I played the goody-two-shoes route this time, by not making pacts with other demons and offering to help everyone under the sun. But I can't help but wonder how differently the game would go if I played as Vlad the Heartless. How would that help me unlock puppets I missed this time? How would it change the already chaotic world? Does it have as many ending varieties as Dungeon Siege III? I also can't help but wonder about the backstories for the other soul puppets I didn't choose. With all of that replayability bubbling under the surface, it's nigh impossible to not recommend Shadows: Awakening to all hack-n-slash RPG fans, especially those who never tire of the tried and true Diablo III formula.
COGconnected: 72 / 100 by Lillian King
ZTGD: 7 / 10 by Ken McKown
That doesn't take away from the fact that I enjoyed nearly my entire time with it. Those that pick it up will likely not be disappointed; it is just getting someone to take the plunge that could cause problems. This is the kind of game that would have benefitted from being just a bit cheaper at the outset.e
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